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*Focus: Lumi*
The final chamber roared with chaos.
Spires of obsidian twisted from the ground like claws, and a writhing storm of cursed energy pulsed from the center—where the Crown Warden waited. A massive construct of broken regal armor and coiling voidlight, its face was a shattered helm from which no light escaped. Six wings of jagged shadow flared behind it as it screamed.
But Yuki did not face it alone.
He lunged forward, flames trailing behind his wings. The Warden retaliated with a wave of anti-magic, shattering spells mid-cast. From the side, Lumi burst into motion, sword glowing with the celestial fury of her ultimate skill.
"**Solar Ascendance—Second Form!**" she cried.
Her blade arced like the sun's flare, meeting the Warden's wing-blade mid-swing. The collision sent shockwaves through the chamber, shattering rock and crystal alike. She landed beside Yuki, panting, but grinning.
"Nice timing," Yuki rumbled.
She winked. "I could say the same. But hey, if you're gonna play the noble dragon king, someone's gotta be your knight in flaming armor."
The Warden surged forward again. Tentacles of void curled toward them—hungry, twisting tendrils of despair.
Lumi and Yuki moved in perfect synchrony.
Yuki's fire coated her sword, amplifying her strikes. Lumi's precision opened up weak spots for his claws to tear through. They circled the enemy like twin stars—one blazing, one burning.
"Left!" Lumi shouted, and Yuki twisted just in time to avoid a crushing blow.
"Right flank—go!" Yuki returned, and Lumi was already there, blade meeting shadowsteel.
Their coordination was born not just of training, but of trust. Every glance between them carried the weight of shared battles and unspoken bonds.
Then the Warden's core flared.
A lance of black light formed and launched at Yuki with deadly speed.
He turned—too slow.
"**NO!**" Lumi cried.
She dove forward, slamming into him with all her might, forcing him out of the way. The lance pierced through her side.
Yuki caught her before she hit the ground.
"Lumi—!" His voice trembled.
She winced, gritting her teeth. "Ow. Okay. That stings like crazy. But hey… still alive."
His claws trembled as fire coiled along his back. "Don't push yourself. I can finish it."
She reached up, cupping his snout with her bloody hand. "Don't you dare leave me out of the finale."
Yuki hesitated—and then, as their eyes met, the bond between them surged. Flames burst upward from both their bodies, merging into one roaring vortex.
"Let's end this," she whispered.
"Together."
They rose side by side. One slash of Lumi's blade split the storm above. One roar from Yuki cleaved through the Warden's shield. The final blow was a spiraling crash of fire and steel that shattered the Crown Warden into molten fragments.
When silence fell, Lumi dropped to one knee, breathing heavily. Yuki lowered himself beside her, his massive form curling protectively around her.
"You almost got yourself killed," he muttered.
"Only a little."
He turned his head to her, eyes serious. "Don't do that again."
She looked at him, a rare softness in her eyes. "Then stop being worth dying for."
He froze.
"I meant what I said earlier," Lumi continued, her tone quieter now. "I don't joke when it comes to this kind of thing. You… you changed me. You made me care again."
Her hand gently traced the edge of his scaled cheek. "So if I want to stay by your side forever, I'm not saying it as a warrior. I'm saying it as a woman."
Yuki's heart thundered. Her golden eyes shimmered with an honesty that struck deeper than any blade.
He leaned closer, their faces inches apart. "Then stay."
Lumi smiled. "Gladly."
Their lips nearly touched—almost—but then footsteps echoed behind them, the rest of the group approaching.
Lumi groaned. "Interrupted again. This is becoming a pattern."
Yuki chuckled, his tail brushing hers beneath the dust.
She leaned against his shoulder, letting the silence stretch just a moment longer before the others arrived.
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